And all the congregation of the children of Israel departed from the presence of Moses. And they came, every one whose heart stirred him up, and every one whom his spirit made willing, and they brought the LORD’S offering to the work of the tabernacle of the congregation, and for all his service, and for the holy garments. Exodus 35:20-21

After Moses gave the Israelites all the instructions and teachings he received from God, their hearts were stirred. They immediately had a desire to serve God and perform their skills and duties that were required of them and that they were capable of. This is exactly what the Church should be today

The Israelites were a community, trusting in God as their provider and Lord, this is the same the Church community should be today. Nobody should need to force you into service for God, your heart should be stirred to serve Him. An offering to God is not just about giving tithes, its about giving of yourself (Romans 12) your talents and skills to be used for Gods Kingdom

And they came, both men and women, as many as were willing hearted, and brought bracelets, and earrings, and rings, and tablets, all jewels of gold: and every man that offered offered an offering of gold unto the LORD. And every man, with whom was found blue, and purple, and scarlet, and fine linen, and goats’ hair, and red skins of rams, and badgers’ skins, brought them. Every one that did offer an offering of silver and brass brought the LORD’S offering: and every man, with whom was found shittim wood for any work of the service, brought it. Exodus 35:22-24

Everyone came, men and woman, with a willing heart! Nobody had to force them to server God. This is not “works based salvation” Nobody believed they would be saved beacuse of their works performed for God. They served God because they loved God and because God loved us first!

And all the women that were wise hearted did spin with their hands, and brought that which they had spun, both of blue, and of purple, and of scarlet, and of fine linen. And all the women whose heart stirred them up in wisdom spun goats’ hair. And the rulers brought onyx stones, and stones to be set, for the ephod, and for the breastplate; And spice, and oil for the light, and for the anointing oil, and for the sweet incense. Exodus 25:25-28

The Men and Woman gave and performed the services based on their skills and talents. Just as we are the Body of Christ, and each of us have a specific gift of the Holy Spirit, each part performs a role or function within the whole Body, (Romans 12) This is exactly what we are seeing here, a community of God serving and loving one another

The children of Israel brought a willing offering unto the LORD, every man and woman, whose heart made them willing to bring for all manner of work, which the LORD had commanded to be made by the hand of Moses. Exodus 35:29

The community, Men and Women, whose heart were willing! Nobody had to force them into serving God, they had a heart for God. This is a foreshadow of The Church, we serve God because our hearts are willing and because He loves us in Jesus Name Amen!

And Moses said unto the LORD, See, thou sayest unto me, Bring up this people: and thou hast not let me know whom thou wilt send with me. Yet thou hast said, I know thee by name, and thou hast also found grace in my sight. Now therefore, I pray thee, if I have found grace in thy sight, shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight: and consider that this nation is thy people. Exodus 33:12-13

Moses is having an open conversation with God, during this conversation Moses is a straight shooter. Moses asks God “You said you were going help me lead these people, so where is my help”? Of course this is a paraphrase but Moses is basically having a heart to heart talk with God

Another question Moses asks is “How will these people know I have received your grace”? This same question can be asked about ourselves, how do people know we have the grace of God through Jesus Christ? Its by the way we live, its by our faith we display, its by our fruit we produce!  

And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest. And he said unto him, If thy presence go not with me, carry us not up hence Exodus 33:14-15

God answers Moses directly, He says “I will Go With You” , imagine that God was the answer to the Israelites problems all along. Just as God is still our answer today. Stop looking around for solutions and start looking up! God is with You!

For wherein shall it be known here that I and thy people have found grace in thy sight? is it not in that thou goest with us? so shall we be separated, I and thy people, from all the people that are upon the face of the earth. And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name. Exodus 33:16-17

Moses asks again, “How will anyone know I have received your Grace”? What will set us apart from the rest of the world? Jesus Christ sets us apart by the Holy Spirit, the word Holy in the Bible means Set Apart. You are set apart by God through Christ, and the world knows you are different

The same was with the Israelites, they were set apart from the rest of the pagan nations. Those who truly followed God were not worshipping false idols and practicing abominations, they were set apart by the Sabbath and they worshipped the True Living God

Notice God tells Moses “ You have found Grace and I know You By Name”! Imagine that not only did Moses receive Grace from God but He knows him personally. The same is with us today through Christ. We have the Grace of God through Jesus Christ and He has called us by name Amen!